Weekend Warriors (Sisterhood #1)(56)

“Satisfied?” Nikki asked sourly when Jack followed Charles into the kitchen. “Now what? If you want to check the rest of the house, go to it. He has a court order, Myra. That means he can do whatever he damn pleases. That includes going through your drawers.”

“I-don’t-think-so!” Myra said, rearing up on her chair. “You try doing that, young man, and I’ll call the police commissioner personally. And the mayor.”

Jack wagged his finger under Nikki’s nose. “You really are a troublemaker. I’m not going through your drawers, Myra. However, I will open your closets and look inside. Don’t worry, I won’t touch anything.”

“Don’t expect us to help you. Go to it, Sherlock,” Nikki said.

Jack returned to the kitchen thirty minutes later, his face bleak with disappointment.

“I guess I’ll see you to the gate. Ooops, you gotta do the barn, don’t you.”

“Yes, I have to do the barn,” Jack said, slamming his way through the open doorway. Nikki followed him.

“Don’t spook the horses and don’t —”

“— touch anything.” Jack whirled around, his face full of disgust and anger. “What is it with you rich people?” He looked down at his hands. “Do you think us poor commoners have some kind of disease on our hands? That we aren’t good enough to touch your precious belongings? I’m doing my goddamn job, is what I’m doing. If you don’t like it, screw you.”

“Jack, I didn’t mean…Jack…”

When he returned, his face was still full of disgust. “You better walk me to the gate and let me out so I don’t touch anything. Right now I’m wondering how the hell I ever fell in love with you.”

“Jack…”

“Get out of my way, Nik. Don’t worry, I’ll have someone call you when we bring Kathryn Lucas in for questioning.”

“I’m…sorry, Jack.”

“Sorry is just a word. Now get the hell out of my way.”

Tears streaming down her cheeks, Nikki turned away.





Fifty-six hours later, Kathryn saw and heard the siren at the same moment the Malinois slammed his body against the door. “Easy, Murph, easy. I see them.” She slowed the rig and pulled to the shoulder a quarter of a mile down the road. In the side-view mirror she saw the cop exit his squad car. She watched as he leaned against the door. A second police car came out of nowhere and pulled in front of her. The second cop got out of his car and started to walk toward her just as the first cop swung around to the passenger side of the rig. Murphy, his hair on end, lunged at the door.

The CB squawked. “Hey, out there, this is Cornball, looks like Big Sis hit a spot of trouble. Sis, need any help?”

Kathryn picked up the CB. “Don’t know yet, Cornball. Stay on my six and let’s play it out. I’m riding empty this leg and heading home.”

“Gotcha, Sis. Blue Rider is a quarter of a mile up and slowing down. Give us two blasts and we’ll close in.”

“You got it, Cornball. I’ll leave the power on so you can hear.” She leaned out the window but didn’t say anything. Murphy was in her lap, his head next to hers.

“Are you Kathryn Lucas?”

“I am.”

“We’re impounding this truck. Follow the first car. I’ll be behind you.”

“Do you have a warrant?”

“No, ma’am, but there is one at headquarters. The district attorney said you would come in willingly.”

“All right, but only if my lawyer is present. If you can’t arrange that, I’m not moving this truck. Call it in and let me know the answer.” Kathryn moved back from the window. Murphy continued to growl at the officer standing below him.

Kathryn risked a glance in the rearview mirror. Her eyebrows shot upward. She started to laugh when she saw the caravan of eighteen-wheelers spread out across the road. She looked forward and saw the same bridge a tenth of a mile up the road.

Ah, the power of the open road. Alan always said trucking was a noble profession because on any given day the drivers could bring the entire country to its knees simply by not turning on the engines. For one brief moment she felt almost invincible.

His hand on his holster, the first cop bellowed, “What the hell is going on here?” His voice sounded jittery to Kathryn’s ears. She smiled.

The second cop looked back over his shoulder and then forward. Kathryn could see the sweat bead up on his forehead. The first cop looked up at Kathryn and said, “Get on that CB of yours and tell those truckers to disperse now.”

Kathryn picked up the CB and said, “This is Big Sis. Listen up. These two fine officers standing next to my truck told me to get on this CB and tell you to dissss-perse now. She listened, the grin staying on her face as the truckers, one by one, professed to have serious engine problems.

“Officer, they seem to be having difficulty with their engines.”

“Tell them to call the goddamn auto club!”

“This is Big Sis again, boys. These fine officers want you to call the auto club.” She listened, her face going pink.

She leaned out the window. “I don’t think you want to know what they said. They want to know if you have the number of the auto club. So, is my lawyer going to be there or not?”